For over a decade, RIA has been at the forefront of driving progress, connecting businesses, and fostering collaboration to unlock new opportunities for innovation. The cross-sector Unlocking Innovation programme serves as a platform for the brightest minds and cutting-edge technologies, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and expertise across the industry. Through a series of events, workshops, and networking opportunities, Unlocking Innovation has successfully engaged thousands of professionals, highlighting the rail sector as a beacon of innovation. Unlocking Innovation - Connecting Regions. Igniting Opportunities programme aims to work closely with Network Rail’s regions and route businesses, passenger and freight operating companies, major railways projects, and regional transport bodies to bring together the innovation community and local railway stakeholders for a showcase of market-ready innovations.
The RIA Innovation Conference is a flagship event in the Unlocking Innovation programme. This event looks at cross industry strategic issues where blue sky thinking, radical innovation and collaboration can make a significant impact in improving the UK's railways.
The highlight of the event is the opportunity to not only hear from senior railway industry leaders, but also from other industries presenting their work in research, development and innovation implementation, highlighting opportunities to collaborate and share best practice. It is a vibrant two-day event bringing decision makers and innovators together for networking, learning and exploring.
Unlocking Innovation Strategic Partners work with RIA to develop the programme of activities and events.
Research, development and innovation (RD&I) plays a vital role in unlocking opportunities in Network Rail and the wider rail sector to improve safety, reduce cost and achieve net zero, to improve the customer experience and to deliver a more sustainable railway system for future generations. For example, RD&I projects started between 2019 and 2024 have already delivered opportunities for financial efficiencies in the next 5 years of £62m across Network Rail's Regions, with another £65m of other benefit opportunities – and there is more to come. Over the next 20 years the RD&I portfolio projects from this period are forecast to generate benefit opportunities of 3 times investment (£1.9bn NPV), demonstrating the value that RD&I investment has to the business. The direct investment acts as a catalyst for other third party and supplier investment, stimulating economic growth across GB plc and supporting the levelling up of our economy.
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The UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) is designed to create powerful collaboration between academia and industry, aiming to provide a step-change in innovation in the sector and accelerate new technologies and products from research into market applications globally.
The centres are created in Digital Systems (led by University of Birmingham), Rolling Stock (led by University of Huddersfield, in partnership with Newcastle University and Loughborough University) and Infrastructure.
Telent is a leading technology company and specialist in the design, build, support and management of the UK’s critical digital infrastructure, drawing on decades of experience in mission critical communications and technology.
With a strong focus on key customer areas including transport, emergency services, network providers and the public sector. Our expertise, accreditations and knowledge make us a trusted partner for organisations at the forefront of the digital revolution.
There are a number of ways to get involved with Unlocking Innovation.
Use our self-assessment tool to evaluate your status with respect to the various capabilities required for effective innovation. You can download and keep a copy of your results at the end of the questionnaire. Take Assessment
Rail can be a complex environment for companies, particularly when they are looking to develop new products and services. Explore the different organisations, initiatives and support to help you innovate in rail. Explore the Landscape